Firestone

BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL
  Akron, OH
  

This week marks the return to Akron, OH for the Bridgestone Invitational. The event is played at the Firestone Country Club, which is one of America’s iconic private clubs and has hosted the PGA Championship on three occasions. The event is one of four World Golf Championships played during the PGA Tour season and features a field of 76 players with no cut on the weekend.
 
The Bridgestone was always an enjoyable week for those of us working the tour trailer as equipment reps. It was typically a low stress week because the players playing the event generally are playing well so those in the field were not in danger of missing the playoffs and losing their playing status for the next year. It also marked the time of the year when we would get a chance to work on new products because the R&D teams would be out doing field testing on the next year’s product introductions. This is one of the most important steps in product development because the final tweaks of a club design can make or break how the club performs.
 
Firestone also features 54-holes and that made it the only week of the year if the range was empty and your work was done that you could lock up the doors and head to the tee for an emergency nine holes. The Bridgestone Inv. was a great event to catch your breath before the last major of the year and the playoffs that finished off the calendar year.